SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

The '''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''' is one of two daily newspapers in Seattle, Washington, United States, the other being the ''Seattle Times''. The '''P-I''' is widely perceived to be more liberal than the ''Times''. It is well-known nationally for its editorial page, especially its editorials and political cartoons.

Contents

History

Joint Operating Agreement - "JOA"

Awards

Report on Judge Gary Little

Conduct Unbecoming series

In popular culture

References

External links

History

The ''P-I'', Seattle's first newspaper, was founded on December 10, 1863 as the ''Seattle Gazette'' by J.R. Watson. ^[3][4] The paper failed after a few years and was renamed the ''Weekly Intelligencer'' in 1867 by the new owner, Sam Maxwell. In 1881, The ''Intelligencer'' merged with the ''Seattle Post''. The names were combined to form the present-day name.⁴
Circulation stood at 31,000 in 1911.³
William Randolph Hearst took over the paper in 1921. The Hearst Corporation owns the ''P-I'' to this day.⁴
On December 15, 2006 no copies were printed as a result of a power outage caused by the December 2006 Pacific Northwest storms. It was the first time in 70 years that publication had ceased.^[5]

Joint Operating Agreement - "JOA"

Since 1983, the ''P-I'' and ''The Seattle Times'' have been run under a "Joint Operating Agreement" (JOA) whereby advertising, production, marketing, and circulation are run for both papers by the ''Seattle Times Co.'' They maintain separate news and editorial departments. The papers put out a combined Sunday edition.
In 2003 ''Times'' tried to cancel the JOA, citing a clause in the JOA that three consecutive years of profit losses were cause for cancelling the agreement. Seattle P-I and Times settle legal dispute Hearst disagreed and immediately filed suit to prevent the ''Times'' from cancelling the agreement. Hearst argued that a ''force majeure'' clause prevented the ''Times'' from claiming losses in 2000 and 2001 as reason to end the JOA, because they resulted from extraordinary events (in this case, a seven week newspaper strike). Each side publicly accused the other of attempting to put its rival out of business. The trial judge granted a summary judgment in Hearst's favor on the force majeure issue. But after two appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the ''Times'' on June 30, 2005, on the force majeure clause, reversing the trial court judge. Now, the case goes back to the trial court to try the facts involved in several other causes of action in Hearst's suit. Both papers settled the issue on April 16, 2007.

Awards

The ''P-I'' is notable for its political coverage, its tradition of outstanding columnists and its two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, David Horsey. Editorally, the ''P-I'' is seen as more liberal than the ''Times'', endorsing Al Gore over George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election. However, both papers endorsed John Kerry over George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.

Report on Judge Gary Little

Investigative reporting on King County Superior Court Judge Gary Little's out-of-court contact with juvenile defendants revealed accusations that Little molested young boys while he was a teacher at Seattle's exclusive Lakeside School between 1968 and 1971. It also revealed inappropriate contact between Little and juveniles appearing before him after he became a judge. On 19 August 1988, after reporter Duff Wilson called the judge to advise him the newspaper was publishing the story, Little shot himself in the King County Courthouse. The ethical debates surrounding the publication of the story – and the network of connections that protected Little – are taught in journalism classes across the country, and led to reforms in the way judges are disciplined in Washington state.

Conduct Unbecoming series

In 2006 the PI was the subject of a complaint to the Washington News Council for its reporting on the King County Sheriff's Office. The media watch-dog group ruled against the PI, agreeing with Sheriff Sue Rahr's complaint that the newspaper had unfairly disparaged the Sheriff's Office.^[6] The PI declined to participate in the proceedings, and opted instead to give a detailed reply on its website.^[7]

In popular culture

The 2003 film ''The Ring'' features a protagonist, played by Naomi Watts, who is a reporter at the ''P-I''.

References

1. 2007 Top 100 Daily Newspapers in the U.S. by Circulation
2. Circulation figures include combined ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' and ''The Seattle Times'' for Sunday edition.
3. Character of P-I's content changed as Seattle grew up
4. Intelligencer newspaper founded in Seattle in 1867.
5. With power out, Seattle papers use News Tribune’s presses
6. Council rules against P-I over sheriff's complaint
7. Panel: P-I unfair to Sheriff's Office

External links

★ ''The Seattle P-I'' online

★ Hearst subsidiary profile of the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''